Why is responsive web design important?

The Importance of Responsive Web Design

Responsive web design simply refers to the way in which website design professionals built a website that is compatible not only with desktops, but also with a range of mobile devices including tablets and smartphones. Previously, people have had to have one website where potential customers/clients can access their information online using their PC, and then a dedicated mobile website for users who are browsing their site on the go.

Today, it’s so important to have a responsive website for a number of reasons. First and foremost, mobile sales have overtaken desktop sales and it’s predicted that this will be the year that internet usage on mobile devices will take over desktop internet usage.

If you look at specific statistics, 67% of people say that they are more likely to make a purchase from a mobile-friendly website. Over 20% of all Google searches are made on a mobile device and almost 26% of all emails are opened using a smartphone, with just over 10% being opened on a tablet.

The advantages of having a responsive website

1. Google prefers it. According to Google, having a responsive website is ‘industry best practice.’ The reasons behind this are simple. Responsive sites have only one URL and the same HTML no matter what device you use to look at the website. This makes it easier for Google to index, organise content and crawl. When you have two websites, it becomes more complicated, and Google has to do all of this for two websites.
2. One website can be viewed on multiple devices. If you have a customer who likes to browse your website for items on their way to work on the train, they might want to then go home at night to their desktop or laptop and show their partner or friend before purchasing. When they view your site from one device to the next, you want them to have a seamless, pleasant experience and this is what a responsive design offers.
3. Less complicated to manage. If you have two websites, you have two SEO campaigns you need to run and manage. It makes sense to put all of your time and focus into one website that translates across all devices.
4. Responsive sites are forward thinking. Responsive websites are based around a template that focuses on screen size, not device. This means that no matter what devices are developed with different screen sizes, your website will display as it should, no matter what the size of the screen is on that particular device.

In this day and age, if a customer or potential client is visiting your website and can’t zoom in or browse as they usually would on a desktop on their smartphone, they are going to get frustrated and leave. When you are looking for a website design professional in Sydney, make sure they know how to build responsive websites. Responsive sites are all about ensuring quality customer/client experiences and interactions with your brand, with every encounter.